Arena inquiry: Families praised for ‘extraordinary dignity’ as evidence ends

The long-running public inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing ended as it began.

Tuesday – day 194 – marked the final day of scheduled evidence and, as on day one back in September, 2020, the names of those who died in the atrocity were read out in court amid respectful silence.

All present were upstanding for a minute’s silence.

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The evidence, the court heard, would likely have an ‘enduring effect’ in Manchester and across the country.

There was praise for the bereaved families, many of whom have been ever present at Manchester magistrates court as distressing details about how their loved ones lost their lives were poured over day after day.

Addressing the inquiry’s chairman, Sir John Saunders, counsel to the inquiry Paul Greaney QC said: “Much of the evidence that we have heard has been harrowing and we have no doubt that it will have had an enduring effect on all who have been present to listen to it and to see it.

“That includes those representing the core participants, it includes the inquiry legal team, most certainly, and, sir, we dare say that it includes you as well.”

“It does,” replied Sir John, a retired High Court judge.

Mr Greaney went on: “But more than anybody, the effect of the evidence on the bereaved families must have been enormous and, sir, we are certain that you will agree, it is appropriate that we should observe that the dignity with which they have listened to and viewed the evidence has been extraordinary.”

“I think it is entirely appropriate that we should now end, as we started, with the reading out of the names of those who tragically died, and we also remember those who are injured as well,” said Sir John.

The Arena atrocity was the deadliest terrorist attack in the UK since the 7/7 London bombings in 2005.

Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a device in a rucksack as crowds left an Ariana Grande concert at the venue on May 22, 2017.

The attack claimed 22 lives – the youngest an eight-year-old girl, Saffie-Rose Roussos.

Sixty three people were seriously injured and 111 hospitalised.

Sir John, addressing the court on Tuesday, urged anyone still affected by the atrocity to seek help.

“There will be people who can help and provide guidance,” he went on.

“I’m asked to suggest that you do do that, rather than just keep it to yourself. So go and get help if you can.

“Parts of this inquiry have been unbelievably emotional for those listening to it and…so much more for the families who have had to listen to it as well.”

There were 13 preliminary hearings before the inquiry began and 194 days of oral evidence given in total.

Over that period, the inquiry has heard from 267 witnesses – and from as many as 24 expert witnesses.

Mr Greaney revealed 172,000 pages of documentation have been disclosed to legal representatives of interested parties, including the bereaved families.

The YouTube feed of the proceedings – which has been running almost every day of the inquiry – has been viewed more than 700,000 times by people in 46 countries, said Mr Greaney.

Split into 14 chapters, the inquiry has examined all aspects of the terror attack in painstaking detail.

Hearings began on September 7, 2020, and continued, remotely, through the Covid pandemic lockdown.

There have been apologies and admissions of failures – changes to policies and procedures and scrutiny of decisions made on the night.

Stories of heroism have emerged – and all the families involved revealed the beautiful lives of their lost loved ones over the course of moving commemorative hearings.

Two days of closing statements and submissions from counsel representing beavered families, and other parties involved, on the issue of ‘planning and preparation of the attack, preventability and the radicalisation’ of Abedi is expected to be held in March.

Three reports – volumes one, two and three – in total will emergence from the inquiry.

Sir John published his first report into security arrangements at the Arena last summer.

He said Abedi should have been identified as a ‘threat’ and challenged.

‘Disruptive intervention’ should have been taken against him – and lives could have been saved as a result, Sir John found.

“Had that occurred, I consider it likely that Salman Abedi would still have detonated his device, but the loss of life and injury is highly likely to have been less,” he said.

The report was critical of SMG, the owners of the Arena, the stewarding company Showsec, and British Transport Police (BTP).

Two further reports are due.

They will focus on the response of the emergency services to the attack and whether the security services and counter-terrorism police could, and should, have prevented the bombing, a report which is also expected to consider the radicalisation of Abedi.

Volume two is expected to be published in the summer but no date has been confirmed as yet.

Sir John, addressing court on Tuesday, said: “There is a huge amount of material, as people appreciate, to be gone through, to be reviewed and to actually prepare the reports.

“So it may seem it will be taking us a long time from what we said on the timetable, but believe me, every minute of that will be needed to make sure we can do that and there are, as the lawyers will know, a number of processes which will have to be gone through, before we are in a position to publish.”

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